The plan at a glance
| Day | Area | Main stops | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funchal | Old town, market, Monte cable car | None · walk + cable car |
| 2 | Câmara de Lobos | Harbour, Cabo Girão skywalk | None · Rodoeste bus |
| 3 | Mountains | Pico do Arieiro / Pico Ruivo | Guided tour with pickup |
| 4 | North coast | Santana, São Vicente, Porto Moniz | Guided tour with pickup |
| 5 | East | Machico, Santa Cruz | None · SAM bus |
| 6 | Levada walk | 25 Fontes, Caldeirão Verde or Balcões | Guided walk with transport |
| 7 | Funchal | Gardens, market, airport | None · Aerobus or transfer |
Day by day
01Day 1
Funchal on foot
- Mercado dos Lavradores, Rua de Santa Maria, Sé Cathedral and the marina, all walkable from any central hotel.
- Cable car to Monte, gardens, then the Levada dos Tornos path or bus 20/21 back down.
- Sunset drinks on the Avenida do Mar.
On the ground · No car needed at all on this day. Funchal centre to Monte is 15 minutes by cable car.
02Day 2
Câmara de Lobos & Cabo Girão by bus
- Rodoeste buses run frequently from Funchal to Câmara de Lobos.
- Local shuttle or taxi up to the Cabo Girão skywalk.
- Lunch by the fishing harbour, poncha in the afternoon.
03Day 3
Guided mountain day (Arieiro / Pico Ruivo)
- Book a small-group tour with hotel pickup, it includes the pre-booked trail slot.
- This is the single day where a tour genuinely replaces a hire car.
04Day 4
Guided north-coast tour
- Santana, São Vicente, Seixal and the Porto Moniz pools in one loop, with pickup in Funchal.
- Ask whether swimming time at Porto Moniz is included before booking.
05Day 5
Machico & Santa Cruz by bus
- SAM buses from Funchal to Machico run through the day.
- Machico beach, old town and lunch; Santa Cruz for the lido and seafront restaurants.
06Day 6
Guided levada walk
- 25 Fontes, Caldeirão Verde or Balcões with transport included, the trailheads have no useful bus service.
- Confirm the operator books your paid trail slot for you.
07Day 7
Funchal gardens + flight
- Botanical garden or Quinta do Palheiro by bus, last lunch in town.
- Aerobus or a pre-booked transfer to the airport.
If the mountain weather turns
- Check the live webcams at 06:00: if Pico do Arieiro is above the cloud, go that morning whatever the plan says.
- Cloudy peaks usually mean a clear north coast: swap in Porto Moniz, Seixal and São Vicente.
- Rain everywhere? Mercado dos Lavradores, the museums, a wine lodge tasting or the cable car below the cloud line.
- Check live levada conditions the evening before any walk: official IFCN closures are listed trail by trail.
Sources and last verified
Editorial facts last verified on 2026-09-05. Prices, timetables and trail status change, these are the official sources we check against, and the ones to confirm on the day.
- IFCN Madeira: Official trail status and closures
- Simplifica: PR trail booking and fees
- ANA / Aeroportos: Funchal airport flight board
- Horários do Funchal: Funchal bus routes and fares
- Porto Santo Line: Ferry timetable and fares
- IPMA: Official weather warnings
Frequently asked
Can I visit Madeira without hiring a car?
Yes. Funchal, Monte, Câmara de Lobos, Machico and Santa Cruz are all reachable by public bus or cable car, and organised day tours cover the mountains, the north coast and the levada trailheads. Most no-car visitors book two or three tours across a week.
Where should I stay in Madeira without a car?
Central Funchal, between the marina and the old town. It is the hub for every bus operator, the cable car and tour pickups. Caniço and Câmara de Lobos are the next best options.
Can I reach levada walks by bus?
Only a few. Balcões at Ribeiro Frio is served by an infrequent bus, but Rabaçal, Queimadas and the Arieiro trailheads effectively are not. Guided walks with transport are the practical answer.